Traffic distribution in a wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication system using a media access control (MAC) layer comprising a subscriber unit system and a base station system. The base station system is configured to receive a request for a communication service, dynamically select between a first portion of the MAC layer corresponding to a first wireless transmission link using a licensed radio frequency and a second portion of the MAC layer corresponding to a second wireless transmission link using an unlicensed radio frequency, and exchange communications for the communication service over the selected one of the first portion and the second portion of the MAC layer. The subscriber unit system is configured to transmit the request for the communication service to the base station system and exchange the communications for the communication service over the selected one of the first portion and the second portion of the MAC layer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/546,677,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,801,519, filed Apr. 11, 2000.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to communication networks, and specifically, to amethod and system for dynamically controlling traffic distribution overa pair of wireless transmission links.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The development of advanced wireless communication networks have takenon critical importance with the dramatic rise in consumer demand forservices. With the proliferation of the Internet, new types ofcommunication services have been added to the array of services offeredto consumers. Internet applications such as web browsing, chat rooms,and PUSH technology have joined e-mail, bulletin boards, and voicecommunication as conventional communication services.

Different wireless communication services require different qualities ofservice and have different priorities. Certain applications such asvideo and audio are time dependent, while e-mail and text are not.Telephone conversations and web browsing require delivery in real time,while video mail can be observed at a later point. In addition,telephone conversations can have some errors or static and still beunderstood by the listener but are time dependent. On the other hand,downloading a computer program must be error free but is not timedependent.

To control the quality of service for wireless communications such asvoice, video and data, service providers operate wireless systems inlicensed frequencies. These frequencies are typically licensed from theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) to the service provider on ageographic basis. Once licensed, the service provider exercisesmanagement control over the frequencies in the specified coverage areaensuring the necessary quality of service. Some examples of licensedfrequencies include Personal Communication Service (PCS), MicrowaveMultipoint Distribution System (MMDS), and Local MultipointCommunication Systems.

On the other hand, the FCC also allocates blocks of un-licensedfrequencies that may be used by any service provider or end user.Unlicensed frequencies however, while freely available, do not allowservice providers to manage the quality of service provided forsensitive communication. Some examples of unlicensed frequencies includeUnlicensed Personal Communication Service (UPCS) and IndustrialScientific Medical (ISM) bands.

Unfortunately, the licensed frequencies are a scarce and expensiveresource. Therefore, it is a problem in wireless communication networksto continually support the addition of services over the licensedtransmission frequencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advances the art by providing a method and systemfor dynamically controlling wireless communication service traffic overa licensed wireless transmission link and unlicensed wirelesstransmission link based on a quality of service. Some examples ofcommunication service traffic includes but is not limited to, telephony,multimedia, internet applications, digital audio, and videoentertainment. The invention supports the varying quality of servicerequirements by dynamically exchanging communication service trafficover the licensed wireless transmission link where the required qualityof service is high and exchanging communication service traffic over theunlicensed wireless transmission link where the required quality ofservice is low.

The invention is comprised of a wireless system using a media accesscontrol (MAC) layer comprising a first portion corresponding to a firstwireless transmission link using a licensed frequency and a secondportion corresponding to a second wireless transmission link using anunlicensed frequency. The wireless system provides the communicationservice to the consumer by: 1) receiving a request for a communicationservice, 2) in response to receiving the request, dynamically selectingbetween the first portion and second portion of the MAC layer based onthe required quality of service, and 3) providing the requestedcommunication service over the selected one of the first portion and thesecond portion of the MAC layer.

Advantageously the present invention improves network efficiencies andincreases throughput by providing various wireless communicationservices over both licensed and unlicensed frequencies. Alsoadvantageously the present invention permits the use of wirelesscommunications to provide a diverse array of communications services andallows new communication services to be provided to end user without theburdens of wiring the residence or business for the new services. Also,existing communication services are freed from constraints of theexisting wired solution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a MAC frame format in a MAC layeraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the operation of thewireless system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating another example of the operation ofthe wireless system of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating another example of the operation ofthe wireless system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT System Configurationand Operation—FIGS. 1-3

FIG. 1 depicts a wireless system 120 coupled to a first communicationdevice 105, a second communication device 106, an Nth communicationdevice 107 a network system 113. The wireless communication system 120is comprised of a subscriber unit system 100 and a base station system109. The subscriber unit system 100 is comprised of a subscriber controlsystem 101, a communication interface system 103, and a pair ofsubscriber wireless transceivers 102 and 104. The communicationinterface system 103 is connected to the subscriber control system 101,the subscriber wireless transceivers 102 and 104, and the communicationdevices 105, 106, and 107. The subscriber control system 101 isconnected to the subscriber wireless transceivers 102 and 104. The basestation system 109 is comprised of a base station control system 111, apair of base station wireless transceivers 108 and 110, and a networkinterface system 112. The network interface system 112 is connected tothe base station control system 111, the base station wirelesstransceivers 108 and 110, and the network system 113. The base stationcontrol system 111 is connected to the base station wirelesstransceivers 108 and 110. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatsubscriber unit system 100 and base station system 109 would typicallyinclude various conventional components not shown on FIG. 1 for clarity.

The communication interface system 103 could be any device that receivesrequests for communication service from the communication devices 105,106, and 107, transmits requests for communication service to thesubscriber control system 101, receives control information from thesubscriber control system 101, and exchanges communication servicebetween the communication devices 105, 106, and 107 and wirelesstransceivers 102 and 104. The communication interface system 103 couldbe a voice interface that acts as a POTS interface, supervises signals,channels voice lines, or resolves contention between voice lines. Thecommunication interface system 103 could also be a data interface thatmanages data stream, performs asynchronous time division, orconcentrates data lines.

The communication service could mean any service provided to asubscriber where the subscriber unit system 100 exchanges informationwith another device or person. Some examples of communication servicesinclude without limitation, voice communications, FAX communications,audio broadcasts, pay-per-view video broadcasts, web browsing,transferring data files, and e-mail. The communication devices 105, 106and 107 could be any devices that transfer or receive information suchas voice, data or video. Some examples of communication devices arewireline telephones, cellular telephones, fax machines, answeringmachines, private branch exchanges, computers, personal LANs, stereos,and televisions.

The subscriber wireless transceiver 102 could be any conventionaltransceiver that exchanges communication service requests between thecommunication interface system 103 and the base station wirelesstransceiver 108, receives control information from the subscribercontrol system 101, and exchanges communication service between thecommunication interface system 103 and the base station wirelesstransceiver 108. The subscriber wireless transceiver 104 could be anyconventional transceiver that exchanges communication service requestsbetween the communication interface system 103 and the base stationwireless transceiver 110, receives control information from thesubscriber control system 101, and exchanges communication servicebetween the communication interface system 103 and the base stationwireless transceiver 110.

The base station wireless transceiver 108 could be any conventionaltransceiver that exchanges communication service request between thesubscriber wireless transceiver 102 and the network interface system112, receives control information from the base station control system111, and exchanges communication service between the subscriber wirelesstransceiver 102 and the network interface system 112. The base wirelesstransceiver 110 could be any conventional transceiver that exchangescommunication service requests between the subscriber wirelesstransceiver 104 and the network interface system 112, receives controlinformation from the base station control system 111, and exchangescommunication service between the subscriber wireless transceiver 104and the network interface system 112.

The subscriber wireless transceiver 102 and the base station wirelesstransceiver 108 comprise a first wireless transmission link between thesubscriber unit system 100 and the base station system 109 and employlicensed frequencies for wireless transmissions. Some examples of thefirst wireless transmission link include without limitation, amultipoint multichannel distribution link, a personal communicationservice link, and a millimeter wave link using code division multipleaccess or time division multiple access technology. The subscriberwireless transceiver 104 and the base station wireless transceiver 110comprise a second wireless transmission link between the subscriber unitsystem 100 and the base station system 109 employing unlicensedfrequencies for wireless transmissions. Some examples of the secondwireless transmission link include without limitation, a nationalinformation infrastructure link, an unlicensed personal communicationservice link, and an industrial scientific medical link using codedivision multiple access or time division multiple access technology.The term “wireless transceiver” could mean any device or plurality ofdevices that exchange transmissions over an air interface.

The network interface system 112 could be any device or plurality ofdevices that exchanges communication service requests between thewireless transceivers 108 and 110 and the base station control system111 and exchanges communication service between the wirelesstransceivers 108 and 110 and the network system 113. The networkinterface system 112 could perform POTS line concentration or manageasynchronous time division or packet data stream.

The network system 113 could be any system or plurality of systems thatbill, authorize, or exchange communication service with the networkinterface system 112. Some examples of the network system 113 includewithout limitation, public internet servers, private corporate intranetservers, video programming systems, multimedia network servers, and POTSservers.

The base station control system 111 could be any computer processingplatform that: 1) receives a request for a communication service, 2)dynamically selects between a first portion of a MAC layer correspondingto the first wireless transmission link and a second portion of the MAClayer corresponding to the second wireless transmission link based on aquality of service, 3) and exchanges communications for thecommunication service over the selected one of the first wirelesstransmission link and the second wireless transmission link. In someexamples of the present invention, the base station control system 111could also coordinate the operation of the network interface system 112and the base station wireless transceivers 108 and 110 to exchange thecommunications for the communication service with the network system 113over the selected one of the first wireless transmission link and thesecond wireless transmission link. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the base station control system 111 could be distributedwithin the network interface system 112, and the base station wirelesstransceivers 108 and 110.

The subscriber control system 101 could be any computer processingplatform that: 1) transmits the request for the communication service tothe base station control system 111 and exchanges communications for thecommunication service over the selected one of the first wirelesstransmission link and the second wireless transmission link. In someexamples of the present invention, the subscriber control system 101could also coordinate the operation of the communication interfacesystem 103 and the subscriber wireless transceivers 102 and 104 toexchange the communications for the communication service with thecommunication devices 105, 106, and 107 over the selected one of thefirst wireless transmission link and the second wireless transmissionlink. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the subscribercontrol system 101 could be distributed within the communicationinterface system 103, and the subscriber wireless transceivers 102 and104.

In some examples of the present invention, such as where the request forthe communication service is from network system 113, the operation ofthe subscriber control system 101 and the base station control system111 could be reversed. In this case the base station control system 111could provide the request to the subscriber control system 101 andexchange the communications over the selected one of the first andsecond wireless transmission link. Similarly, the subscriber controlsystem 101 could receive the request for the communication service andselect between the first and second portion of the MAC layer.

FIG. 2 depicts a media access control (MAC) frame format in a MAC layerin an example of the present invention. The MAC control frame format(MAC frame) 200 is comprised of a licensed allocation sub frame 201,corresponding to the licensed wireless transmission link, and theunlicensed allocation sub frame 202, corresponding to an unlicensedwireless transmission link. The MAC frame 200 also includes requestslots 203. It should be noted that in some examples of the invention,the request slots 203 could be part of the licensed allocation sub frame201, part of the unlicensed allocation sub frame 202, or included inboth the licensed allocation sub frame 201 and the unlicensed allocationsub frame 202. Reservation information 212 is placed in the requestslots 203. Reservation information 212 is control information for thecommunication service. Some examples of reservation information are userprofile of authorized services, capacity parameters based on servicepriorities, service prioritization table, and system user ID correlationto service addresses (ex. IP address and phone numbers).

The licensed allocation sub frame 201 includes constant bit rate (CBR)slots 204 and variable bit rate (VBR) slots 205. The unlicensedallocation sub frame 202 includes available bit rate (ABR) slots 206 andundefined bit rate (UBR) slots 207. Communication information forrequested communication services is placed in slots 204, 205, 206, and207, depending on the type of communication requested and the portion ofthe MAC frame 200 selected e.g. the licensed allocation sub frame 201 orthe unlicensed allocation sub frame 202. In one example of the inventioninformation such as voice information 211 could be placed in CBR slots204, while internet file transfer information 210 could be placed in VBRslots 205. In another example of the invention, information such asinternet data services could be placed in ABR slots 206, while emailinformation 208 could be placed in UBR slots 207. Those skilled in theart will understand the various queuing methods could be used to reserveinformation in the slots 204, 205, 206, and 207. Some examples ofqueuing methods include but may not be limited to circuit modereservation, first-come-first-serve queuing, fair queuing, burstservicing policies, time of expiry queuing, and a statisticalmultiplexing algorithm where available capacity is allocated amongdemands based on usage parameters declared during call set-up.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating one example for providingcommunication services over a wireless communication system according tothe present invention. The flow chart begins at step 300. At step 301,the subscriber control system 101 receives a request for a communicationservice with network system 113 from one of the communication devices105, 106, and 107. The request is received in subscriber control system101 via the communication interface system 103. In response to therequest, the subscriber control system 101 determines the type ofcommunication service requested, and transmits a request for that typeof communication service to the base station control system 111 via awireless signaling link at step 302. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the communication service request could originate fromthe network system 113 and could be transmitted to the subscribercontrol system 101 via the wireless signaling link. For example, thenetwork system 113 may have an incoming call for one of thecommunication devices 105, 106, and 107. In this case the base stationcontrol system 111 would determine the type of communication servicerequested and transmit the request for the communication service to thesubscriber control system 101. It should also be noted that the wirelesssignaling link could be a part of the requests slots 203, the CBR slots204, the VBR slots 205, the ABR slots 206 or the UBR slots 207, and canoperate on either the licensed or unlicensed frequency.

In response to receiving the request, the base station control system111 determines a required quality of service for the requestedcommunication service at step 303. The required quality of service couldbe based on the delivery requirements for the requested communicationservice. Some examples of the delivery requirements are time dependency,need for real time communication, traffic patterns, bandwidth, priority,and grade of service. Also at step 303, the base station control system111 selects one of the licensed allocation sub frame 201 or theunlicensed allocation sub frame 202 based on the determined requiredquality of service for the requested communication service. Based on thetype of communication service requested, the base station control system111 identifies a position in the section of the MAC layer for therequested communication service at step 304. At step 305, the basestation control system 111 generates an instruction to provide thecommunication service using the selected portion and position in MAClayer and transmits the instruction for subscriber control system 101.At step 306, the communication service is provided between the networksystem 113 and the requesting communication device 105, 106, and 107over the selected portion of the MAC layer. The communication service isprovided through the network interface system 112, the communicationinterface system 103, and the pair of wireless transceiverscorresponding to the selected portion of the MAC layer e.g. 102 and 108.Once the communication service concludes, the session terminates andwireless capacity tears down in reverse order ending the session at step307.

Alternatively, the subscriber control system 101 could provide therequest for the communication service from one of the call devices 105,106, and 107 directly to the base station control system 111 and thebase station control system 111 could determine the type ofcommunication and select the portion of the MAC layer. Similarly, thebase station control system 111 could provide the request for thecommunication service from the network system 113 directly to thesubscriber control system 101 and the subscriber control system 101could determine the type of communication and select the portion of theMAC layer.

Examples of System Operation—FIGS. 4 and 5:

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate additional examples of system operation inaccordance with the present invention. It is anticipated however, thatone skilled in the art will recognize numerous other examples inaccordance with the principles described below, and thus, the followingexamples are for the purpose of illustration and not limitation. Thoseskilled in the art will also appreciate that various features describedbelow could be combined with the above described embodiment to formmultiple variations of the invention.

In this example the communication devices 105, 106 and 107 could beconnected to the subscriber unit system 100 by communication linksemploying digital subscriber line (DSL) and/or cable modem technology.Similarly, the subscriber unit system 100 and the base station system109 could utilize fixed wireless access technology to provide voice anddata communications and the first communication device 105 could be aconventional telephone.

FIG. 4 depicts a message sequence chart illustrating an example of avoice call using a wireless system according to the present invention.On FIG. 4 the subscriber picks up the communication device 105triggering an off-hook event in the communication interface system 103.Recognizing the communication service request as a request for a voicecall, the communication interface system 103 transmits a communicationservice request message that includes a voice call trigger to thesubscriber control system 101. The communication interface system 103could recognize that a voice call is being requested using variousmethods including but not limited to, a dedicated port or board for thecommunication device 105, a separate signaling channel, or a packettransmission from communication device 105.

The subscriber control system 101 processes the communication servicerequest to generate and transmit a request for a voice call to the basestation control system 111 through an upstream signaling connection. Theupstream signaling connection could utilize either wireless transceivers102 and 108 corresponding to the licensed transmission link or could usewireless transceivers 104 and 110 corresponding to the unlicensedtransmission link. Responsive to receiving the voice call request, thebase station control system 111 determines the required quality ofservice for the requested communication using allocation rules based oncontrol objectives. Some examples of the control objectives includewithout limitation, (1) continually exchanging traffic between therequesting communication device e.g. 105 and the network system 113using the portion of the MAC layer corresponding to the licensedwireless transmission link where the required quality of service ishigh, and (2) continually exchanging traffic between the requestingcommunication device e.g. 105 and the network system 113 using theportion of the MAC layer corresponding to the unlicensed wirelesstransmission link where the required quality of service is low. In thecase of a voice call where the required quality of service is high, thebase station control system 111 selects the portion of the MAC layercorresponding to the licensed transmission link.

In response to selecting the portion of the MAC layer, the base stationcontrol system 111 identifies a position in the selected portion for anupstream voice communication and a downstream voice communication. Forexample, the base station control system 111 could select CBR slots 204for the voice call. The base station control system 111 then transmitsan instruction to the subscriber control system 101 to provide therequested voice communication based on the selected portion and positionin the MAC layer.

The subscriber control system 101 and the base station control system111 coordinate the provision of the voice communication service and setup a virtual connection path for the call based on the selected portionand position in the MAC layer for the upstream and downstream voicecommunication. The virtual connection path is comprised of a downstreamvirtual connection and an upstream virtual connection between thecommunication interface system 103 and the network interface system 112.

After the virtual connection path is set up the base station controlsystem 111 responds with a dial tone for the communication interfacesystem 103. The communication interface system 103 provides the dialtone to the call device 105. The subscriber then dials a telephonenumber. The communication interface system 103 provides the digitsthrough the upstream signaling connection to the network interfacesystem 112 to complete the call. The virtual path connection andwireless capacity is torn down in reverse order after call is completed.

FIG. 5 depicts a message sequence chart illustrating an example of aninternet data session using a wireless system according to the presentinvention. In this example, the base station system 109 could beconnected to network system 113 by a metropolitan fiber ring orterrestrial microwave system using SONET and/or ATM protocols. The basestation system 109 and subscriber unit system 100 could also use packettransmission network architecture to provide always-connectedcommunication services, even for connectionless services. Secondcommunication device 106 could be a conventional computer. On FIG. 5 thesubscriber requests the internet data session using the communicationdevice 106. Recognizing the communication service request as a requestfor an internet data session, the communication interface system 103transmits a communication service request message that includes aninternet data session trigger to the subscriber control system 101. Thecommunication interface system 103 could recognize the request as aninternet data session using various methods including but not limitedto, a dedicated port or board for the communication device 106, aseparate signaling channel, or a packet transmission from communicationdevice 106.

The subscriber control system 101 processes the communication request togenerate and transmit a request for the internet data session to thebase station control system 111 through an upstream signalingconnection. The upstream signaling connection could utilize eitherwireless transceivers 102 and 108 corresponding to the licensedtransmission link or could use wireless transceivers 104 and 110corresponding to the unlicensed transmission link. Responsive toreceiving the internet data session request, the base station controlsystem 111 performs authentication and authorization of the subscribersInternet account using network interface system 112. For example, thenetwork interface system 112 checks if the subscriber has a validInternet account for web browsing or e-mail. If the subscribers accountis not authorized or authenticated, the session ends. If the account isauthorized and authenticated, the internet session connection continuesand the base station control system 111 determines the required qualityof service using the allocation rules based on the control objectives.In the case of an internet data session that does not require a highquality of service, the base station control system 111 selects theportion of the MAC layer corresponding to the unlicensed transmissionlink.

In response to selecting the portion of the MAC layer, the base stationcontrol system 111 identifies a position in the selected portion for anupstream internet communication and a downstream internet communication.For example, the base station control system 111 could select UBR slots207 for the internet data session. The base station control system 111then transmits an instruction to the subscriber control system 101 toprovide the requested internet data session based on the selectedportion and position in the MAC layer to establish the internet datasession. After the subscriber terminates the internet session, thewireless capacity tears down in reverse order.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the internet data sessioncould include e-mail, world wide web browsing, PUSH technology, and chatrooms. Those skilled in the art will understand that the examples inFIGS. 4 and 5 could apply to other communication devices such astelevisions, set top boxes, and stereos. Some examples of communicationservices provided to other communication devices are audio broadcast,file transfers, data transfers, network games, desktop multimediacommunications, video broadcasting, and video conferencing. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the instruction to provide thecommunication service that require only one way communication such as avideo broadcast will only be sent to elements providing thecommunication service.

The above-described control systems could be comprised of instructionsthat are stored on storage media. The instructions can be retrieved andexecuted by a processor. Some examples of instructions are software,program code, and firmware. Some examples of storage media are memorydevices, tape, disks, integrated circuits, and servers. The instructionsare operational when executed by the processor to direct the processorto operate in accord with the invention. The term “processor” refers toa single processing device or a group of inter-operational processingdevices. Some examples of processors are integrated circuits and logiccircuitry. Those skilled in the art are familiar with instructions,processors, and storage media.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of the abovedescribed embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. As aresult, the invention is not limited to the specific examples andillustrations discussed above, but only by the following claims andtheir equivalents.

1. A method for operating a wireless subscriber unit, the methodcomprising: in an interface system, receiving a user request for acommunication service from a communication device; in a control system,in response to receiving the user request, determining a requiredquality of service for the requested communication service; in thecontrol system, upon determining the required quality of service,dynamically selecting a one from a licensed wireless transmission linkand an unlicensed wireless transmission link based on the requiredquality of service for the requested communication service; and in awireless transceiver, providing the requested communication service overthe selected one of the licensed wireless transmission link and theunlicensed wireless transmission link.
 2. The method of claim 1 whereindetermining the required quality of service for the requestedcommunication service comprises determining the required quality ofservice based on a delivery requirement of the requested communicationservice, and wherein the licensed wireless transmission link is selectedbased on determining that the required quality of service is a highquality of service.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the unlicensedwireless transmission link is selected based on determining that therequired quality of service is a low quality of service, and wherein thecommunication service is one of a plurality of communication servicesprovided to the communication device, and wherein each of the pluralityof communication services corresponds to a different one of a pluralityof qualities of service, and wherein determining the required quality ofservice for the requested communication service comprises determiningthe required quality of service based on the quality of service of theplurality of qualities of service that corresponds to the requestedcommunication service.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the licensedwireless transmission link is a multipoint multichannel distributionservice link.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the licensed wirelesstransmission link is a personal communication service (PCS) link.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the licensed wireless transmission link is acode division multiple access (CDMA) link.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein the licensed wireless transmission link is a time divisionmultiple access (TDMA) link.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein therequested communication service is an audio communication.
 9. The methodof claim 1 wherein the requested communication service comprises anInternet data session.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the licensedwireless transmission link is between the wireless subscriber unit and afirst base station and wherein the unlicensed wireless transmission linkis between the wireless subscriber unit and a second base station.
 11. Acomputer readable storage medium encoded with instructions comprising:communication software operational when executed by a processor todirect the processor to receive a user request for a communicationservice from a communication device, in response to receiving the userrequest, determine a required quality of service for the requestedcommunication service, upon determining the required quality of service,dynamically select a one from a licensed wireless transmission link andan unlicensed wireless transmission link based on the required qualityof service for the requested communication service, and provide therequested communication service over the selected one of the licensedwireless transmission link and the unlicensed wireless transmissionlink.
 12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein therequired quality of service for the requested communication service isdetermined based on a delivery requirement of the requestedcommunication service, and wherein the licensed wireless transmissionlink is selected based on determining that the required quality ofservice is a high quality of service.
 13. The computer readable storagemedium of claim 12 wherein the unlicensed wireless transmission link isselected based on determining that the required quality of service is alow quality of service, and wherein the communication service is one ofa plurality of communication services provided to the communicationdevice, and wherein each of the plurality of communication servicescorresponds to a different one of a plurality of qualities of service,and wherein the required quality of service for the requestedcommunication service is determined based on the quality of service ofthe plurality of qualities of service that corresponds to the requestedcommunication service.
 14. The computer readable storage medium of claim11 wherein the licensed wireless transmission link is a multipointmultichannel distribution service link.
 15. The computer readablestorage medium of claim 11 wherein the licensed wireless transmissionlink is a personal communication service (PCS) link.
 16. The computerreadable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the licensed wirelesstransmission link is a code division multiple access (CDMA) link. 17.The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the licensedwireless transmission link is a time division multiple access (TDMA)link.
 18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein therequested communication service is an audio communication.
 19. Thecomputer readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the requestedcommunication service comprises an Internet data session.
 20. Thecomputer readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the licensedwireless transmission link is between the wireless subscriber unit and afirst base station and wherein the unlicensed wireless transmission linkis between the wireless subscriber unit and a second base station.
 21. Awireless subscriber unit system comprising: an interface configured toreceive a user request for a communication service from a communicationdevice; and a processing system configured to, in response to theinterface receiving the user request, determine a required quality ofservice for the requested communication service, upon determining therequired quality of service, dynamically select a one from a licensedwireless transmission link and an unlicensed wireless transmission linkbased on the required quality of service for the requested communicationservice, and provide the requested communication service over theselected one of the licensed wireless transmission link and theunlicensed wireless transmission link.
 22. The system of claim 21wherein the required quality of service for the requested communicationservice is determined based on a delivery requirement of the requestedcommunication service, and wherein the licensed wireless transmissionlink is selected based on determining that the required quality ofservice is a high quality of service.
 23. The system of claim 22 whereinthe unlicensed wireless transmission link is selected based ondetermining that the required quality of service is a low quality ofservice and wherein the communication service is one of a plurality ofcommunication services provided to the communication device, and whereineach of the plurality of communication services corresponds to adifferent one of a plurality of qualities of service, and wherein therequired quality of service for the requested communication service isdetermined based on the quality of service of the plurality of qualitiesof service that corresponds to the requested communication service. 24.The system of claim 21 wherein the licensed wireless transmission linkis a multipoint multichannel distribution service link.
 25. The systemof claim 21 wherein the licensed wireless transmission link is apersonal communication service (PCS) link.
 26. The system of claim 21wherein the licensed wireless transmission link is a code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) link.
 27. The system of claim 21 wherein thelicensed wireless transmission link is a time division multiple access(TDMA) link.
 28. The system of claim 21 wherein the requestedcommunication service is an audio communication.
 29. The system of claim21 wherein the requested communication service comprises an Internetdata session.
 30. The system of claim 21 wherein the licensed wirelesstransmission link is between the wireless subscriber unit and a firstbase station and wherein the unlicensed wireless transmission link isbetween the wireless subscriber unit and a second base station.